SHBG

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin and Miscarriage

SBHG lower in missed miscarriage

Progesterone, estrogen, total testosterone, and SHBG in 22 patients with missed miscarriage were
significantly lower than those in normal group, whereas % free testosterone was
significantly higher. There was a significant negative correlation
between % free testosterone and SHBG concentration in the normal group, but not in
the missed miscarriage group. All the subjects in whom % free testosterone was 1.30%
and higher subsequently miscarried, but no subject with % free testosterone less
than 0.70% had a miscarriage.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9548158

SHBG lower in pregnancies resulting in miscarriage

The median maternal serum SHBG concentration was not significantly
different from controls, in those that subsequently developed
preeclampsia, non-proteinuric hypertension or preterm delivery. The levels were
significantly lower in those with diabetes
and those pregnancies resulting in miscarriage.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16263602

SHBG lower in pregnancies that miscarry

In general, pregnancies ending in miscarriage displayed lower
SHBG-levels than pregnancies with a successful outcome, but a great deal
of overlap in SHBG values was found between the miscarriage and the
non-miscarriage cases. In the 6th to 9th weeks of pregnancy 'non-pregnant'
SHBG levels were frequently found despite normal levels of estrogen in patients continuing pregnancy until delivery. After the 9th
gestational week a highly significant positive correlation was found
between estrogen and SHBG. The lack of correlation between these parameters
before this gestational age indicates that the increased SHBG synthesis
seen in pregnancy develops later than the rise in estrogen.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9548158

No subject with a testosterone/SHBG ratio of less than .70% had a miscarriage

Total testosterone in 22 patients with missed miscarriage was
significantly lower than those in normal group, whereas % free testosterone (the total testosterone level divided by the SHBG level) was
significantly higher. There was a significant negative correlation
between % free testosterone and SHBG concentration in the normal group, but not in
the missed miscarriage group. All the subjects in whom % free testosterone was 1.30%
and higher subsequently miscarried, but no subject with % free testosterone less
than 0.70% had a miscarriage.http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/002072929390322N

Both testosterone, and the testosterone/SHBG ratio, are higher in recurrent miscarriage

Testosterone concentrations were higher in the women with
recurrent miscarriages both with and without PCOS on days LH-7 and LH-4
of the cycle. Concentrations of androstenedione (precursor to testosterone and estrogen) also were higher in the
women with recurrent miscarriages, but without PCOS on day LH-7.
Testosterone/SHBG ratios were higher in the women with recurrent
miscarriages, without PCOS compared with the controls on days LH-7,
LH+0, and LH+7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9548158

Type of Vitamin E found in food is associated with higher SHBG

Serum SHBG correlated positively with serum HDL-cholesterol, plasma progesterone, and dietary
intake of beta-tocopherol, and negatively with
that of fructose. Multivariate regression analyses
showed that beta-tocopherol and linoleic acid (found in vegetable oils) was an independent positive
predictor of serum SHBG. When individual nutrients were the predictor
variables, beta-tocopherol, but not other tocopherols or
fatty acids (including linoleic acid), was an independent positive
predictor of serum SHBG. Circulating insulin and waist
circumference, but not serum lipids, were negative
independent predictors of SHBG in all regression models. Additional
studies are needed in women of other age groups and men to determine
whether consumption of foods rich in beta-tocopherol and/or linoleic
acid may increase serum SHBG concentrations and may thereby decrease the
risk for metabolic syndrome and reproductive organ cancer.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19339706

SHBG and Insulin

Low SHBG is associated with up to an 11 fold increased risk of diabetes

Low concentration of SHBG was significantly correlated to the incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The increased incidence of diabetes was confined to the lowest quintile
of SHBG values, where it was 5-fold higher than in the remaining group.
This incidence was further increased to 8- and 11-fold in the lowest 10
and 5% of the values, respectively. We conclude that SHBG is a uniquely
strong independent risk factor for the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in women.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2015967

SHBG prevents insulin resistance

Our findings suggest that SHBG may account for the inverse association
between coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes risk among postmenopausal
women. Caffeinated-coffee was positively associated with SHBG but not with sex
hormones. Multivariable-adjusted geometric mean levels of SHBG were 26.6
nmol/L among women consuming ≥4 cups/day of caffeinated-coffee and 23.0
nmol/L among non-drinkers . In contrast, neither
decaffeinated-coffee nor tea was associated with SHBG or sex hormones. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of type 2 diabetes for women
consuming ≥4 cups/day of caffeinated-coffee compared with non-drinkers
was 0.47. The association was
largely attenuated after further adjusting for SHBG (odds ratio=0.71).

High insulin lowers SHBG

There is an inverse relationship between the serum levels of insulin and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in women. As SHBG is not known to alter the production or
metabolism of insulin, whereas insulin has been shown in vitro to decrease
the synthesis of SHBG, it seems a reasonable conclusion that the
predictable inverse relationship between serum insulin and SHBG indicates
that insulin controls SHBG synthesis in vivo.http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/79/4/1173